30 The Bulletin. 



For corn there are three general methods of improvement: First, by- 

 importation of seed from some reputable breeder or grower; second, by 

 the careful selection of seed corn from one's own field or from a neigh- 

 bor's; third, by careful selection and growing of seed corn in a field 

 isolated something like four or five hundred vards from anv other corn 

 field. 



The characters that should be taken into account in the improvement 

 of corn by selection are : 



(1) Selection of ears from stalk bearing two or more ears, as it has 

 been demonstrated time and again that a variety that bears two medium- 

 sized ears per stalk will generally give higher yields of shelled corn per 

 acre than a variety bearing one large ear to the stalk. 



(2) The stalk should be large at the base and tapering gradually 

 towards the tassel, for two reasons — first, because it will be better 

 enabled to withstand drought, and, second, because it will stand up 

 better in windstorms. 



(3) The ears should by all means be of a cylindrical form, with both 

 butts and tips filled out, as this is the form that gives the highest per- 

 centage of yield of shelled corn per ear, other things being equal. 



(4) The best-shaped kernel is a medium wedge, as this fills out the 

 space on the cob most completely. Also, the distance between the rows 

 of grains should be small, while the number of rows should be large 

 and run parallel the full length of the cob, with little or no diminution 

 in size, either at the butts or tips. The percentage of grains should be 

 from 80 to 90 and should be held rigidly by the cob. It should also 

 possess a high (90 to 95 per cent) germinating power, and great resist- 

 ing power to disease and insect ravages. 



It should be kept clearly in mind that, with varieties of corn, selec- 

 tion should be made particularly with reference to total yield of shelled 

 corn and the characters which tend to give this and an improved qual- 

 ity of grain. If it is to be used in feeding growing animals, or to be 

 ground into meal for human consumption, it should be high in flesh and 

 muscle-forming material (protein) ; if for fattening stock, high in fat, 

 and if to manufacture whiskey, alcohol or starch, high in starch, sugar, 

 etc. (carbohydrates). 



SOURCES OF VARIETIES OF CORN TESTED. 



The seed used in the variety tests of corn at the Edgecombe, Iredell 

 and Buncombe farms this year were obtained from the following sources : 



American Queen R. P. Dalton, Winston, N. C. 



Boone County Special (Illinois) . .Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D. C. 



Brake's J. L. Brake. Rocky Mount, N. C. 



Bradbury's Improved J. E. Bradbury, Jr., Athens, Ga. 



Biggs' Seven Ear Xoah Biggs, Scotland Neck, N. C. 



Cocke's Prolific Edgecombe Farm. 



Farmers' Favorite A. Cannon, Horse Shoe, N. C. 



Fry's Improved H. C. Fry, Clarksville. Ga. 



Goodman's Prolific J. K. Goodman, Mount Ulla, N. C. 



Hastings' Prolific H. G. Hastings & Co., Atlanta. Ga. 



Hickory King (Virginia ) A. O. Lee, Bartee, Va. 



Hickory King (Tennessee) Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D. C. 



Holt's Strawberry T. W. Wood & Sons, Richmond. Va. 



